t5 lighting for cattleyas

[stefpix]

Thanks Merlyn. How many bulbs give you that reading?

I have a shelf with 6 T12. I used 4 in the past. I was wondering if the cost of T5s is worth. I do not have a meter. On the box it is indicated that the 40 W T12 s have more lumens that the 34 W T8s...

[Merlyn]

Originally Posted by stefpix

Thanks Merlyn. How many bulbs give you that reading?

I have a shelf with 6 T12. I used 4 in the past. I was wondering if the cost of T5s is worth. I do not have a meter. On the box it is indicated that the 40 W T12 s have more lumens that the 34 W T8s...

Each one individually, I just measure on the bulb. It gets too flaky moving away and too various. I just go by the close as possible rule and keep tabs on how each plant does and adjust accordingly. Cost wise I'm afraid the T5 is UNefficient because you pay by the KiloWatt hour and it's a lot more watts !!!

You're right about more lumens but not a great deal more. I go for the most and find 2950 lumens for T8's vs. 3200 for T12's, both at only 4100K. That was before I was aware of K !!! Now I opt for the 2750 lumens with 6500K for my T8's. They are the new bulbs I just measured on the middle of the bulb at 4400 Fc. I only have a few 12's and want to get at least 1 more T5 fixture. Figure on keeping a few T8's for the Phals and Bulbs shelves.

Want to tell you that the Fc/lumens output depends on the fixture/ballast. I have found by moving the same bulb from this fixture to that one etc. you will get different readings. Different fixtures have different ballasts. I haven't tried the High Output T8's. Most of my fixtures were from Home Depot and the $10 shop 2 bulb fixtures are, in a nutshell, JUNK !!! At the in use time needed for chids they NEVER lasted for 2 years and most died around 1 year !! You get what you pay for ! My best T8 fixture was unused from a customer who didn't need it after I put in recessed lights. A 4 bulb kitchen type and I just leave the cover off. That's the one that puts out 4400 Fc at each bulb.

[stefpix]

Do you have the name of that T8 and what T5 do you have? I use those cheap ones from HD. I do not want to waste ConEd $ in vain. In other plants forum people swear by CFLs...
I am considering this.
Amazon.com: Flashpoint Cool Light 4, 16" Reflector with Four 45W Fluorescent Bulbs: Camera & Photo

[Merlyn]

The T8's I buy at Home Depot and are Philips Daylight Deluxe that I get in a box of 10 for $20 something. The T5 fixture is brand new so I don't need any bulbs yet and I got it from First Ray's and it's a Hydrofarm High Output 6 bulb commercial grade fixture and I got a better price than at my next door outlet !!!

It takes too many CFLs to cover the same area as a 4 foot fixture does. You'd have to have something like a 4 foot bathroom bar fixture times 3 side by side !!! They're good for small collections, small areas, or individual specimen plants. IMHO.

Stefano, for twice that price, I think $160, you can get the same T5 fixture I got with plenty of extra space in case you can't fill it up underneath with chids !!!! Check out First Ray's.

[stefpix]

Merlyn thanks. So you have the T5s on the left and the T8s on the right? how fars from the bulbs was your measurment?I also use southern windows and in the winter I get direct strong light. I hang pots near the glass. I wonder where you got the T8 fixture and how much was it. I was thinking of that CFL fixture to supplement plants on my windowsill and could double as a photo fixture. T5 would be ideal. will check Ray's site

[Merlyn]

I didn't buy that 4 bulb T8 fixture. It was unused and given to me. I have hooked together 2 bulb shop light fixtures to make 4 bulb and 6 bulb lights. Even just hung them side by side which is easier if you have to remove and replace the ballast.

I took the measurements right physically ON the middle of the bulbs. I get the plants as close as they will tolerate to the lights and whatever that is in Fc = that's what it's going to be !

Sounds like you're fine with the window. I have a downstairs and upstairs SE window with T8's over each extended shelf there and it works fine for my chids !

[Andre]

I recently got an 8 tube T5 light with reflector. I have grown and flowered Cattleya species with no issues. I how the walkerianas and nobiliors 5 inches from the tubes with a nice pink cast to the leaves.
They are 6400k tubes.


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[weederwoman]

I finally bought some t5 tubes, and I just noticed a little purple cast to parts of the leaves that are nearest to the tubes on my catts and also on a small leaved (as yet unidentified)dendrobium. This was with two tubes, but inside a greenhouse in our usual cloudy fall weather.

[stefpix]

Did you get a setup woth or without a reflector?

[Libo]

Originally Posted by stefpix

Do you have the name of that T8 and what T5 do you have? I use those cheap ones from HD. I do not want to waste ConEd $ in vain. In other plants forum people swear by CFLs...
I am considering this.
Amazon.com: Flashpoint Cool Light 4, 16" Reflector with Four 45W Fluorescent Bulbs: Camera & Photo

Hi! Actually the light measured under linear tubes read quite interestingly. Since it was not a point light source, the reading usually does not experience that dramatic decrease of light intensity over distance, my plant under T5 usually get something around 1000-2000 footcandle depending on the height. I used 22 inch bulbs, the wattage I can't remember.